Thomas said: “I’m really excited to be moving to Bath next season. They’re a club clearly on the rise, with a lot of ambition.

“They also have a very strong pack, excellent coaches and a top squad, so I can’t wait to get started there.”

Bath forwards coach Neal Hatley added: “Henry and Nick are exceptionally talented and they have a lot of potential as young players to get even better.

“They are enthusiastic about learning and improving, which really fits the culture we’re building here at Bath. We’re very much looking forward to them joining the squad.”

Thomas was recently named in the England squad for the Six Nations by head coach Stuart Lancaster. He made his Red Rose debut on the tour of Argentina last summer.

Thomas was educated at King Edward’s in the city, as well renowned Somerset sports school Millfield, before moving to Manchester to study an economics degree. There, he joined Sale and has made more than 50 Aviva Premiership appearances for the Sharks.

Auterac is a former England under-20s representative who joined the Saracens Academy in 2011.

A graduate of the Oaklands College rugby programme in St Albans, he made his Premiership debut for

Sarries in November 2012 and has ten league appearances to his name.

Both Thomas and Auterac will bolster an already competitive Bath front-row.

Their signings continue the club’s quest to recruit the country’s top young talent following the arrivals of rising England stars George Ford and Anthony Watson last summer.

One player who could be on his way out of The Rec is long-serving Nick Abendanon after reports in France claimed he has agreed a deal with Top 14 giants Clermont Auvergne.

La Montange, published by Centre France media group, say the 27-year-old is to leave The Rec and head across the Channel.

Earlier this month French rugby newspaper Midi Olympique claimed full-back Abendanon had met Clermont officials, with the Top 14 giants viewing him as a replacement for Lee Byrne.

Those initial claims were dismissed by Bath first-team coach Toby Booth, who told the Chronicle: “There is no value in that, as far as we are aware.”

Abendanon, who has been capped twice by England, has made more than 130 Aviva Premiership appearances for Bath in a decade at the club.

However, injuries and the form of Watson have restricted his game time so far this season.